Are New York’s historic horse-drawn carriage rides coming to an end soon? All about Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s latest move | Today’s news
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Speaker of the City Council have agreed on legislation to end horse-drawn carriage rides in Central Park, a change that animal rights advocates have sought for more than 150 years.
The city council is scheduled to vote on the measure on October 22. If passed, it would phase out horse-drawn carriages by June 1, 2028, Politico reported Tuesday. Council President Julie Menin said she expects the 51-member body to pass it with enough support to override a veto.
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What does the legislation propose?
The agreement announced on Tuesday (local time) includes changes to a bill proposed earlier this year, including provisions to help horse-drawn carriage drivers find new jobs and receive compensation after the ban takes effect. Under the amended proposal, city authorities selected by the mayor would have until April 1, 2027 to submit a plan to help drivers, owners and employees of stables. The plan may include financial support, although the bill only calls for the city to consider compensating carriage owners and does not guarantee payouts.
It also includes what the city council leader’s office described as stronger protections for horses, including a ban on owners selling or transferring licensed horses to other carriage businesses or for slaughter. Owners of horse-drawn carriages would have to notify the health department along with the mayor’s animal welfare office at least 10 days before getting rid of the horse. Additionally, anyone caught driving a horse-drawn carriage after the ban could face a $10,000 fine.
What did Mamdani and Menin say about the legislation?
In a statement, Menin said, “Horse-drawn carriages have long been a part of New York’s history, but in an increasingly busy Central Park, the tradition has become a growing public safety liability.” She added, “Next week, the Council will take decisive action by voting on (this bill) to protect New Yorkers, visitors and the horses themselves.”
A spokeswoman for Mamdani declined to comment on whether he would sign the bill, but said “an agreement has been reached” with Menin on the legislation. The spokeswoman added: “We are working closely with the city council, union partners, carriage drivers, animal welfare advocates and community leaders to ensure a just transition that protects workers while ending horse-drawn carriages in Central Park once and for all.
In a post on social media, Mamdani wrote, “The horse-drawn carriage industry is coming to an end in New York. Our administration will ensure that workers and owners are protected and the horses are safe.”
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Central Park currently has 68 horse-drawn carriages supported by about 150 drivers and more than 180 horses, industry spokeswoman Christina Hansen said. The bill has 29 City Council co-sponsors, enough to ensure passage in the 51-member chamber.
Why is Mamdani banning horse-drawn carriages in NYC?
The use of horse-drawn carriages in Central Park has long been a contentious issue. Animal rights activists have argued that forcing animals to work in urban conditions undermines their long-term health and is unsafe. In 2013, during his campaign, former mayor Bill de Blasio pledged to close the industry on his first day in office, but failed after his plan failed to secure City Council support.
But calls to ban the rides intensified earlier this year after 18-year-old Indian tourist Romanch Mahajan, who was riding with his family in a carriage, died after falling from it. After Mahajan’s death, a poll by the Central Park Conservancy, which advocated the ban, found that roughly 68% of New Yorkers supported the carriage ban. David Saltonstall, CPC’s vice president of government relations, said: “This is fundamentally about public safety,” adding: “This is about mitigating a known and growing risk that we have watched build for years and which very sadly culminated in the death of Romanche Mahajan.”
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Operators draw attention to issues related to working conditions and the welfare of horses
Carriage operators have claimed that the rate of horse-related injuries is much lower than other activities allowed in the park, including riding e-bikes or scooters. They argue that without the revenue from the carriages, they will likely struggle to care for their horses and pay fees to relocate them after the ban takes effect.
